Marshall outshines Mansha as Oaks stay four points clear

DIVISION One leaders Oakworth maintained their four-point lead in the Mewies Solicitors Craven League – but only after an exciting five-wicket win over Haworth Road at Cure Hill.

Mansha Khan led the Baildon Bottom side to an impressive 220-9 by hitting a superb 102 (six sixes, 11 fours) to go with Danny Pearson's 55 as Steve Filkin took 3-36 and Adam Smith 3-57.

The home side's innings revolved around Gareth Marshall, who made a magnificent 117 not out (eight sixes, nine fours), which, together with 35 from Michael Scarborough, 25 by Paul Spragg and 22 for Brannan Lawn, saw them reach their target in 39.4 overs.

Ingrow St John's were relieved when Embsay snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

The Shires Lane side had the Saints at 114-7 before Farhan Abbasi (65no), Nadeem Zaman (33) and Nadeem Safdar (25no) got them to 208-8, with Phil Binner taking 5-78.

The reply started well and had reached 98-2 when wickets began to fall cheaply. No 3 Josh Robinson (47) vainly looked for someone to stay with him and when he was ninth out the score stood at 161.

This was pushed to 177 when the innings closed with just three balls remaining, Saints skipper Wasim Hussain claiming 5-74 off 17 overs.

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Haworth have pulled away from relegation danger with four wins on the trot.

Their latest victory came at Foulridge, who elected to bowl, the Bronte innings reaching 188-6 as Dean Trowers (59) and Damian Rowell (67) put on 114 for the third wicket.

The Noyna Rock side then disintegrated to 41 all out, which included six ducks. At one point they were 19-8, with seven close catchers around the batter, as Rowell took 4-14 and Stephen Bell 4-18.

Neil Copping (6-8 off nine overs) added to Cowling's relegation woes at Beckfoot Lane as they were hustled out for just 53, with 20 of those coming from extras.

The hosts found themselves 13-3 before Copping took charge, hitting eight fours in 39 not out – including five off the last five balls – as they galloped to a seven-wicket win in the tenth over.

Riddlesden rattled up the day's highest score of 335-9 on the back of 163 from Amjid Hussain, 60 by Mohammad Shahnawaz and 43 not out for Mohammed Zulfiqar, Jim O'Hara taking 5-71 off 12 overs.

Visitors Crossflatts were dismissed for 149 in 23.5 overs, Ahmed Saeed making 67 and Nathan Bradbury 42 as Shahnawaz took 4-61 and Zulfiqar 4-85.

Only four points cover the top four in Division Two, leaders Glusburn slipping up against Denholme at Park Field, losing by 63 runs and dropping to third.

Junior Toby Priestley scored a super 108 not out to help Denholme to 231-6 and the hosts replied with 168, Dave Atkinson top-scoring with 36 as Mat Goward finished with 4-44.

Chatburn are top, a point clear of Sutton, after an easy victory over Sandy Lane at Greenwood Park.

The white-rose side were dismissed for 81, with Mark Oldfield making 31 as Jonny Lockley took 5-25 and Andy Booth 5-49, the red-rose side getting home by four wickets in the 22nd over.

Second-placed Sutton entertained bottom side Barrowford II and beat them by five wickets.

The Bull Holme outfit were dismissed for 117, with Richard Walker taking 4-48, Justin Holdsworth 3-24 and Simon Doane 3-40. It took 37.2 overs to reach the winning post, with Chris Williams making 38 and Craig Thornton 30 not out.

Oakworth II lost by seven wickets at Long Lee, Richard Cavender making 35 as Matt Taylor took 5-38. The Golden Acre side's success was led by Paul Stowell (63no).

The Westfield Laners never really got going and perished for 113 as Chris Mitchell took 5-21 and Pritesh Mistry 4-49.

Bradley, pre-season favourites for promotion, have gone off the boil and languish in seventh spot, ten points behind Sutton.

At Ingrow, they held the home side to 169, with Lee Humphreys making 42 as James Heseltine took 4-51.

Once Chris Capstick (83) had gone, the reply got bogged down against some tight bowling and the innings closed on 163-6.

In Division Three, Gargrave maintained their five-point lead at the top after demolishing bottom side Wilsden II by nine wickets at Skipton Road.

The Windy Grove side were dismissed for 94, with Will Smith taking 4-26, Joe Metcalfe 3-5 and Jonah Smith 3-23. Chris Lambert made 54 not out in the successful reply.

Skipton CI were indebted to Ian Henderson, who scored 100, after being dropped on 99, of their 186-6 at Baildon Bottom.

The Cowling Cup finalists fell 18 runs short of their target, despite 53 from Paul Rodwell, 37 by Shahid Mahmood and 34 for Wajid Mahmmod as Alex Horsfield spun his way to 4-13.

Bradford & Bingley III warmed up for the cup final with an unhelpful 131-run defeat at Airedale. Chasing 197, they slumped to 66 all out as Sajid Khan claimed 4-14.

Embsay II went down by 95 runs at Ingrow St John's II, while Thornton II lost by eight wickets to Haworth West End at Booth Bridge Lane.

Herbie Starkey (69no) and Joel Grainger (31) were the main contributors to Cononley's six-wicket win over visitors Pendle Forest.

It is tight at the top of Division Four as just two points cover the top quartet, with Hepworth & Idle II leading on run rate from Riddlesden II.

The Westfield Laners hit 215 at home to Bingley Congs II, with Dale Wood making 88 and Phil Haigh 62 as Tony Teale took 4-56. Gary Cook made 41 as the Beckfoot Lane side replied with 136, Garry Orrell (5-42) and Phillip Haigh (3-40) being the best bowlers.

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